Texas runs into Memphis buzz saw

HOUSTON -- The Texas Longhorns' 85-67 loss to the Memphis Tigers proved once again that it doesn't matter where you play, but who, and how well you play against them.

HOUSTON -- The Texas Longhorns' 85-67 loss to the Memphis Tigers proved once again that it doesn't matter where you play, but who, and how well you play against them.

A huge partisan crowd in Reliant Stadium was no help yesterday to the Longhorns, who might have played the eventual NCAA Tournament champion -- and didn't play them very well.

"But we are a pretty good team," Memphis coach John Calipari said. "I just keep saying it."

He'll get no argument from Texas coach Rick Barnes.

"We got beat by a better team," Barnes said. "They have a chance to move on and play for the national championship."

Memphis (37-1) will play UCLA in a Final Four semifinal Saturday on a roll. The Tigers smoked Michigan State on Friday and then impressively handled Texas (31-7).

The Tigers' swarming defense, founded in height and athleticism, was simply too much even for a team that had played and beaten UCLA, Kansas and Tennessee.

"That was an NBA lineup," Texas forward Damion James said.

"They did a great job contesting shots, did a great job defensively period," Longhorns point guard D.J. Augustin said. "We did our best on offense as far as cutting and trying to get open, but they did a good job of closing when we had open shots and making it tough for us."

Augustin made only 4 of 18 shots from the field and finished with more turnovers (four) than assists (three). The Longhorns made only 25 of 69 shots (36 percent).

Shooting guard A.J. Abrams was 6 of 16 for 17 points, going 5 of 10 on three-pointers, although four of those came late with the game already decided.

"They are real athletic, and their length was I think probably the most we've seen this year," Abrams said. "It was pretty difficult trying to get shots off against them."

Memphis guard Derrick Rose had a lot to do with that, flying around to block shots, going above the rim for rebounds and driving, dishing and dunking. The South Regional MVP had 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds.

Rose made his first four shots and his fifth was a three-pointer that went in, then spun out.

"He's so evasive," Barnes said. "I thought early in the game that we could have picked up a couple charges, but I could tell by looking at our players' faces when I said that. They were like, 'I'm sure that looks like we can.' But he was just slippery. He just slips around and comes at you so hard, and then he comes around the rim and can just elevate and get over you."

The only time Texas slowed Rose in the first half was when he got popped on the gash above his right eye and needed new tape and a glue job.

Texas had to know it was in trouble by halftime, though it had pared a 17-point lead to 10, because its best role player -- Justin Mason -- was carrying the team.

Abrams scored only two points in the first half. Nobody else scored more than eight. The outside-shooting frontcourt of Connor Atchley and Damion James was missing in action, collecting two early fouls each and finishing 1 of 10 on three-pointers.

And though the Longhorns ripped off the first six points of the second half to pull to 39-34, the tremendously talented Tigers weren't having any of it.

Memphis scored 16 of the game's next 20 points. By the end, the Tigers had outscored Texas 40-24 in the paint.

"We just try to go out there and prove everyone wrong," said bruising big man Joey Dorsey, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Tigers tied the NCAA Division I record for wins in a season, with their only loss coming to a team ranked No. 2 at the time. They've been first, second or third in the poll all season. And to all the people who keep saying they'd be the first No. 1 seed to lose, Tigers guard Chris Douglas-Roberts can say, "See you in San Antonio."

"I'm not sure if we'll get the respect we deserve, but if we don't, it doesn't matter," said Douglas-Roberts, who had a game-high 25 points. "It's four teams left now."

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